Discharge for tank-cars.



No. 868,130. PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907.

W.'D. RUSSELL.

DISCHARGE FOR TANK-CARS; APPLICATION FILED BEPT.1B.1906.

THE NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGION u c WILLIAM D. RUSSELL, OF HQUSTON, TEXAS.

DISCHARGE FOR TANK-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

Application filed September 18,1906. Serial No. 335,163.

To all whom it "may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM D. RUssELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Discharges for Tank- Cars, of which the following is a specification.

At the present time, tank or reservoir cars such as are commonly employed for the transportation of oil, are equipped with valved discharges at the bottom portions thereof which discharges generally embody a discharge or outlet pipe at the upper end of which is arranged an upwardly opening valve, said valve being adapted to be operated by a vertical rod extending to the upper portion of the car and secured at its lower end to a yoke support above the valve.

The above equipment is possessed of many disadvantages from a practical standpoint, among which are the necessity for entering the car in order to effect repairs or the like. To enter oil cars is a dangerous undertaking under certain conditions, it not being uncommon for workmen to be killed by inhalation of gaseous odors and it being a frequent occurrence for workmen to be overcome by these odors. Again, the operating mechanism for the valved discharges equipped on the above lines is not advantageous for the reason that operation of such mechanism necessitates that the workmen take a position above the car. and, furthermore, the operating rod included in the mechanism is not so substantially secured to the valve as to obviate likelihood of breakage of connecting parts increasing the incidental repairs to the mechanism. There are various other disadvantages which may not be specifically pointed out but which the present invention is intended to eliminate as will be seen on reference to the description hereinafter.

For a full understanding of the invention, and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is vertical sectional view showing a discharge embodying the invention in operative position; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and, Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view bringing out more clearly the attaching means between the discharge or outlet pipe and the closure or cap at the lower end thereof.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

in carrying out the present invention it is contemplated that the discharge for the tank or reservoir car shall be of the valved type, the operating mechanism for the valve, however, being exterior to the body of the car and being accessible from the outside of the latter in order to prevent likelihood of injury to the workmen, to admit of greater ease in operation, and to facilitate repair purposes or the like.

Specifically describing the invention, and referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the bottom portion of a tank or reservoir car of any conventional type. Said bottom 1 is provided with a discharge opening 2 which is provided With a valve seat 3 of hardened metal or similar substance. Extending downwardly from the bottom 1 of the car from the opening 2 is the discharge which consists of a discharge or outlet pipe 4 of a suitable length, said pipe being provided with an offstanding flange 5 at its upper end by which it is substantially secured by fastenings to the under side of the bottom 1 of the car. A valve 6 is adapted for vertical movement above the valve seat 3 of the opening and said valveis operable by a verthe discharge pipe 4 and which is mounted upon a frame 8 arranged in said pipe 4. The valve stem .7 is threaded in its length and passes through an internally threaded sleeve 9 which has a bevel pinion 10 applied thereto. The valve stem 7 passes through an opening in the upper end of the frame 8 and the lower end portion of said stem passes through an opening in a pivot plate 11 mounted on the lower end of the frame 8. A fastener 12 is adapted to hold the plate 11 in a position substantially in line with the lower end of the frame 8, but both the bottom portion and an intermediate bar 13 forming a part of the frame 8 are formed with notches receiving the stem 7 when the latter is in vertical operative position said notches, however, permitting the member 11 to be moved laterally preparatory to displacing the valve stem from the discharge pipe, should' said stem become worn out by stripping of the threads or otherwise rendered unserviceable.

The sleeve 9 is arranged upon the stem 7 at a point below the bar 13 and rotation of said sleeve is adapted to impart vertical movement to the valve stem. In meshing relation with the pinion 10 is a second bevel pinion 14 which is carried by a small horizontal shaft .15, the inner end portion of which is mounted in a vertical arm 16 projecting upwardly from the lower portion of the frame 8 and the outer end of which is provided with a square or oblongextremity and passes through an opening in a side of the discharge pipe 4, the outer end of the shaft 15 is adapted to have a socket wrench or similar tool applied thereto to rotate the shaft and the pinion 14 mounted thereon. The pinion 14 is preferably held in place on the shaft 15 so that it meshes with the pinion 10 by means of a key 17 or similar fastener, and by removing said key, the shaft 15 may be released from the pinion 14 .and removed from the discharge pipe so es to permit the frame 8 to be displaced fromsaid pipe with the operating mechanism carried thereby. The above arrangement and operation of the parts being extremely advantageous for repair purposes and for the purpose of re newing any operating parts which'may have become Worn out, as it will be observed with a tubular threaded extension 18 which projects from a side of the pipe 4 to receive a cap 19 which may house or inclose the outer extremity of the shaft 15. If desired. a socket wrench 20 may be attached to the discharge by a chain 2]. so as to be handy for use in turning the shaft 15 when it is desired to raise and lower the valve 6 mounted on the stems 7. Reverse rotation of the shaft'15' will impart reverse movement to the valve 6 to open and close the latter, as will be readily understood The lower end of the discharge 4 is closed by a cap 22 of the usual screw type which is loosely connected to an arm 23 pendent from a band 24 encircling the lower end portion of the discharge 4 and designed to order to prevent bolts, nails, rocks. or any similar substance from lodging on the valve seat and detracting from the proper operation of the valve as well as destroying the usefulness of the seat in the operation of the valve. The advantage from using the screen will be obvious.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a discharge for tank or reservoir cars, or the like, the combination of a discharge pipe, a valve, a valve stem connected with the valve and extending into the discharge pipe, supporting means in the discharge pipe for said valve stem, and a shaft journaled in the supporting means for the valve stem and extending laterally through a side portion of the discharge pipe, and gearing connecting the valve stem and the shaft.

2. In a discharge for tank or reservoir cars, or the like, the combination of a discharge pipe, a valve, a valve stem connected with said valve and extending into the discharge pipe, a support for said valve stem. and an operating member for the valve stem arranged to connect or attach the support thereof to the discharge pipe.

3. In a discharge for tank or reservoir cars, or the like, the combination of a discharge pipe, a valve, a valve stem therefor. a frame arranged in the discharge pipe and removable therefrom, and a shaft horizontally arranged on the discharge pipe and operatively connected with the valve stem for actuation thereof, said shaft being connected with the supporting frame of the valve. stem to secure said frame to the discharge pipe in a detachable manner.

4. In a discharge for tank or reservoir cars, or the like, the combination of a discharge pipe, a valve. a valve stem arranged vertically in the discharge pipe and threaded in its length, a frame mounted in the discharge pipe and supporting said valve stem, a threaded sleeve mounted on the valve stem and having a bevel pinion applied thereto, a shaft, :1 bevel pinion on said shaft in mesh with the bevel pinion on the valve stem, and means for securing the bevel pinion on the shaft thereto to prevent displacement of the shaft from the pipe.

5. In a discharge for tank or reservoir cars, or the like, the combination of a discharge pipe, a valve, a valve stem arranged vertically in the discharge pipe and threaded in its length, a frame mounted in the discharge pipe and supporting said valve stem, a threaded sleeve mounted on the valve stem and having a bevel pinion applied thereto, a shaft having a bevel pinion in mesh with the bevel pinion on the valve stem, detachable means for securing the shaft and its bevel pinion together whereby the shaft may be removed to permit of displacement of the frame aforesaid, and means connecting the valve stem detachably to the frame before mentioned.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM D. RUSSELL. [L. s.]

Witnesses M. B. LEACI-I, E. L. GUY. 

